Combined trolley and air-brake controller.



- PATENTED DEC. 1, 1903.-

J. KYNOGH. COMBINED TROLLEY AND AIR BRAKE CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED APR ZO, 1903 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

Ill/22%! 1 WITNESSES:

[NVENTOR G n 0MB! z NORR75 PETERS cov, PnoYo-Lmmu wrsmuaron No. 745,502.PATBNTED DEC. 1, 1903.

J. KYNOGH. oommuqn TROLLEY AND AIR BRAKE CONTROLLER.

v APPLIOATION FILED APR 20. 1903.' N0 MODEL. SfiHEETSr-SHEET 2.

PATENTED 1130.1, 1903.

. .I'. KYNOGH. Y con/13mm) TROLLEY ANDAIRBRAKE CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED P 20. 1903. N0 MODEL. I A R .3 SHBETSfEHEET 3.

.I I! I14: lili 27/27/674! 4 ma cams PETCRs co. PHOTO UTHO., wAsHmamu.o, c.

UNITED- STATES Patented December 1, 190a;

JAMES KYNOCH,

MENTS, TO INTERNATIONAL TROLLEY BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OFCOMBlNED OF TORONTO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- CONTROLLERCOMPANY, OF

NEW YORK.

TROLLEY AND AlR-BRAKE CONTROLLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 745,502, dated.December 1 1903. Application filed April 20, 1903. Serial No. 153.522.(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES KYNOGH, of Toronto,,in the county of York, inthe Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented new and usefulImprovements in a Combined Trolley and Air-Brake Controller, of whichthe following, taken in connection with the accom panying drawings, is afull, clear, and exact description. 7 V

This invention relates to improvements in trolley and air-brakecontrollers, the trolleycontrolling mechanism being similar to that setforthin Patent No. 698,532, datedApril 29, 1902, in which thecontroller-operating cord is l 5 connected to a suitable take-up devicewhereby the cord is lightly tensioned to take up any slack therein. Thedevice set forth in this patent also provides means controlled by thetrolley-arm-opera ting cord whereby a sudan den jerk or pull upon thecord, such as is produced by the trolley leaving the wire, the cord andtrolleyarm connected thereto are instantly drawn downwardly away fromthe wire to prevent contact with the tie-wires or 2 5supporting-brackets. Ihavediscovered that the portions of the mechanismsinvolved in tqis patent may be utilized for other purposes andparticularly for setting the air-brakes with which the cars are usuallyprovided, so

0 that when the trolley leaves the wire and suddenly brings into actionthe means for pulling the trolley-arm from the wire this same actionopens a valve in the compressed-airsupply conduit leading to thebrake-cylinder in which the piston moves which actuates the brakes.

My object therefore is to equip my trolleycontroller with an automaticbrake-controlling mechanism which is brought into action by the suddenmovement of the trolley-operating cord caused by the trolley leaving thewire.

' Another object is to provide means under the control of the attendant,such as the conductor or motorman, whereby the mechanism which-draws thetrolley-arm away from the wire is returned to its normal position bycompressed air.

Further objects will appear in the subs'e 5o quent description.

secured, while the other In the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 arelongitudinal vertical sections, partly broken away, of a trolley andair-brake controlling device embodying the features of my invention, theouter casing being shown in section and the interior mechanism inelevation. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are enlarged sectional views taken,respectively, on lines 3 3, Fig. 2, 4 4, Fig. 1, and 5 5, Fig. 4. Figs.6 and 7 are sectional views taken, respectively, on lines 6 6 and '7 7,Fig. 3, the piston, however, being shown in its depressed position, amodified form of mechanism for controlling the compressed air whichoperates to return the piston to its normal position being shown.

Similar reference characters indicate correspondiug parts in all theviews.

In carrying out the objects of my invention 1 have shown an uprighthollow case or shell 1, having a cylindrical lower end,in which ismovable a piston 2 and spring 3, said shell being mounted upon asuitable supportingbase 4, having a chamber 5, in which is movable avelvet. In the upper end of the case is mounted a revoluble take-up drum7, to 75 which one end of a trolle -operating cord 8 is end of the cordis connected to a trolleyarm. (Not shown.)

he manner ofconnecting the cord with the trolley-arm being well known itis believed to be unnecessary to further illustrate or describe thetrolley-armor its connection with the cord.

The lower end of the spring 3 is connected or secured to a suitableanchorage 9 in the base 4, which anchorage is swiveled to the inner endof a clamping-bolt 10, which clamps the anchorage 9 to the base andprevents its endwise movement, although it is free to rotate upon theinnerend of the bolt 10. The opposite or upper end of the spring isfirmly secured to the piston 2 by a clamping-plate 11,, so that when thepiston is moved upwardly the spring is tensioned.

The shell or case 1 is provided with an inner annular shoulder 13, whichis located substantially midway between the opposite ends of the shelland is adapted to be engaged by oppositely-acting pawls or detents 14,which are mounted upon the piston and serve to too wardly from thewirein case the hold the piston in its up position, with the spring 3tensioned. These pawls or detents slide in suitable ways in the upperendof the piston and are normally forced outwardly by an interposed spring15. Pivotally mounted upon the upper end of the piston is a pairoflevers 16, one for each detent, said levers being provided withinwardly-extended slotted arms which receive a pin or stud 17 of a yoke18, the latter being movable vertically independently of the piston.Mounted upon the upper end of the yoke is a revoluble sheave or idler19, around which the cord 8 is looped between the drum 7 and the outerend which is attached to the trolley-pole.

The drum 7is actuated in the direction indicated by arrow at by aspring-motor 21 for the purpose of taking up any slack in the cord 8,said drum being provided with a pair of diametrically oppositegravity-pawls 22, which are arranged to engage teeth 23 in the adjacentwall of the case 1 when the drum is rotated with considerable speed inthe opposite direction. Thesepawlsarenormallyheldout of the teeth bylight coil-springs is, when the trolley-arm moves gradually up and downalong the wire at various heights the take-up drum operates to maintaina light tension on the cord. Now, assuming that the trolley should leavethe wire,which would produce a sudden jerk upon the cord 7 and at thesame time would instantly cause a similar quick rotary movement of thedrum sufficient to throw the pawls 22 into the path of the teeth 23 atthe same instant, a sudden jerk is transmitted to the yoke 18sufifiicient to operate the levers 16, and thereby draw the detents 14,with which the levers are engaged, inwardlyout of holding engagementwith the annular shoulder 13, whereupon the spring 3 immediately acts todraw the piston 2, yoke 18, and trolley-cord 8 downwardly withconsiderable force, so that the trolley-arm connected to the cord isalso drawn downwardly away from the trolley-wire and held in thisposition until the piston is again returned, it being understood thatthe pawls 22 now hold the drum from rotary movement in an oppo sitedirection from that indicated by arrow x and that the trolley-cordrenders over the sheave 19 while the piston is being pulled downwardly.

I have thus briefly described the automatic means for drawing thetrolley-arm downtrolley should leave the wire instantly, and I will nowproceed to describe the mechanism which forms the subject-matter of mypresent invention.

the action of the spring 35.

ing compressed air thereto, this conduit being usually connected to anair-pump or compressedair reservoir 30, such as is generally used forsupplying compressed air to an airbrake mechanism 31, Fig. 1. It is thusseen that the inlet and outlet passages 26 and 27 of the valve-chamber25 form a portion of the conduit for the compressed air from thereservoir 30 to the cylinder 32 of the brake mechanism, theoutlet-passage 27 being connected directly to the cylinder by a conduit33, so that when the valve 28 is opened the inlet and outlet passagesare connected through the medium of the valve-chamber and the compressedair readily passes to the cylinder 32 to operate the brake members 34through the medium of the piston and its connection with thebrake-shoes.

The valve 28 is automatically closed by a coil-spring 35, interposedbetween the lower end of the valve-chamber and an abutment to which thevalve is secured. This valve is mounted upon a vertical stem 36, whichis guided in an opening in the lower wall of the valve-chamber andextends downwardly a considerable distance beneath said lower wall, itslower end being provided with a shoulder or nut 37 and a sliding collar38. A spring 39 is interposed between the collar 38 and bottom wall ofthe valve-chamber and surrounds the valve-stem 36 for the purpose ofautomatically opening the valve against The spring 39 is somewhatheavier and of greater power than the spring 35, so that when thepressure of the spring 39 is relieved by the downward movement of thepiston in the manner previously described the collar 38 is depressedagainst the shoulder 37 on the valve-stem 36, and thereby forces thevalve 28 from its seat and also compresses the spring 35.

Secured to the upper end of the piston 2 and rising therefrom at thesides of the yoke 18 is a bracket 40, which moves vertically with thepiston independently of the valve and its stem 36, but is arranged toabut against the lower face of the collar 38 when moved to the limit ofits upward stroke for *elevating the compressing the spring thecompression of the spring 35 and permit collar a slight distance and 39so as to relieve the latter to act upon the valve 28 to close the sameagainst its seat, it being understood that although the spring 39 isheavier than the spring 35 the compression of the spring 39 on theupward stroke of the piston is sufficient to relieve the compression ofthe spring 35, the upper end of the bracket 40 being provided with anopening 41 to receive the shoulder 37 and also end of the stem 36 topermit the operation justmentioned. It is now apparent that when thetrolley leaves the wire, and thereby causes a sudden tensioning of thecord 8, the detents 14 are withdrawn from the annular shoulder :13,whereupon the pressed with piston is automatically deconsiderable forceby means of piston,

the spring 3 carrying the bracket 40 with it, 1 and thus relieving thecompression of the spring 39, which acts in the manner. previouslystated to immediately open the valve 28 and permit the compressed air torush through the outlet-opening 27 and conduit 33 to the cylinder 32 forthe purpose of operating the brake to either check the speed of the caror entirely stop it.

The operation just described is entirely automatic and it will bereadilyseen is of great importance, owing to the fact that the instantthe trolley leaves the wire it is not only drawn downwardly away fromthe overhead obstructions, but the brake isalso instantly applied tostop the car to permit the attendant to replace the trolley in'contactwith the wire.

I have now shown how the piston is drawn down to operate the brake andto draw the trolley away from the wire, and I will now proceed todescribe the means for returning the piston to its normal up position.This is done by compressed air traveling through the same conduit thatsupplies air to the brake mechanism, the valve-chamber 5 being pro videdwith inlet and outlet passages 42 and 43, the inlet-passage beingconnected to the conduit 29 by a branch conduit 44 and theoutlet-passage communicating with the interior of the casing or cylinder1 beneath the so that when the valve 6 is open the air rushes into thevalve-chamber and thence into the cylinder 1, thereby forcing the pis 7ton upwardly against the action of the spring 3 until the detents 14engage the annular shoulder 13, whereupon the valve 28 is again closedand the compressed air which may be in the cylinder escapes through anexhaustpassage 45 in the base of the valve-chamber. The valve 6 isnormally closed to prevent the entrance of compressed air .into the.valvechamber and its outlet-opening by a spring 46, which is interposedbetween the bottom Wall of the valve-chamber and annular shoulderprovided on the valve. This valve is arranged so as to opencommunication between the inlet 42 and outlet 43 and to simultaneouslyclose the exhaust-port 45, so that when the compressed air is beingemployed for elevating the piston the exhaust-port 45 is closed toprevent any leakage of the compressed air, and as soon as the valve isreturned to its normal position by the spring 46 the exhaust isimmediately opened to relieve the pressure in the cylinder in which thepiston moves.

In Figs. 1 and 3 I have shown the valve 6 as provided with anupwardly-projecting stem passing through a suitable st'uffing-box 46,having its upper end provided with a footengaging portion 47, wherebythe conductor or other attendant may readily depress the valve to opencommunication between the inlet and outlet passages 42 and 43 whendesired to elevate the piston to its normal position, the spring 46serving to return the valve to its normal position when the presthislatter construction the compressed sure on the foot-piece 47 isreleased.

' In Fig. 6 I have shown a modified form of operating means for thevalve in which the valve extends through the lower wall of thevalve-chamber and is connected to a footpiece 47 by means of a yoke 48,the foot-piece being mounted upon a sliding rod 50, which is movable ina guide 51 at one side of and parallel with the axis of the valve-stem.In an IS introduced through an inlet-opening 42' and the air isexhausted from the cylinder through ports 44.

Connected to the conduit 33 is an alarm or whistle 3-3 of any well-knownconstruction adapted to be operated by the air passing into the conduit33 to signal the conductor or other attendant that the trolley has leftthe wire.

Having thus. fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A trolley-arm-operating cord and a carlorake, in combination withmechanism operatively connected to the brake and cord and brought intoaction bya sudden jerk upon the cord for operating the brake.

2. A trolleyarm-operating cord and a carbrake, in combination withmechanism operatively connected to the brake and cord and brought intoaction by a sudden jerk upon the cord whereby the trolley-arm is drawnfrom the wire and the brake is simultaneously set.

3. A trolley-arm-operating cord and means controlled by the cord forautomatically drawing the same downwardly when the trolley leaves thewire, in combination with an airbrake controlled by said means.

4. In combination with a trolleyarm-operating cord, a conduit forcompressed air to operate a brake,a normally closed valve in theconduit, and connections between the cord and valve whereby when thetrolley leaves the wire the valve is opened.

5. A trolley-arm-operating cord and an air-brake cylinder, acompressed-air conduit leading to the cylinder, a normally closed valvein the conduit, and means controlled by the cord to open the valve whenthe trolley leaves the wire.

6. The combination with a trolley-arm-opcrating cord, of a pistonoperatively connected to the cord and means controlled by the cord tomove the piston when the trolley leaves the wire, a conduit ating toreturn the piston, erated means to control the flow of the conduit.

7. In combination with a trolley-arm-operating cord, mechanismoperatively connected to the cord and brought into action by a suddentensioning of the cord whereby the trolley is drawn from the wire, aconduit for compressed air connected to return the mechanism to itsnormal position, and manually-operated means for controlling the flow ofcompressed air through the conduit.

8. A cylinder and a piston movable therein, a-spring connected to movethe piston in and manually-opair through for compressed air opersition.

9. A cylinder and a piston movable therein, a spring connected to movethe piston in one direction, means for holding the piston against theaction of the spring in combination with a trolley-arm-operating cordoperatively connected to trip said means when the cord is suddenlytensioned, a closed conduit for compressed air connected to the cylinderfor the purpose described, a normally closed valve in the conduit andmeans for operating the valve.

10. A cylinder and a piston movable therein, a valve-chamber havinginlet and exhaust ports and communicating with the cylinder, a valvenormally closing the inlet and adapted to be operated manually to closethe exhaust-port, whereby when the inlet is opened the'exhaust-port isclosed and vice versa, a spring operatively connected to move the pistonin one direction, a detent for holding the piston against the action ofthe spring, a trolley-arm-operating cord operatively connected to tripthe detent when the cord is suddenly tensioned, and a compressed-airconduit connected to the inlet and whereby when the valve is open thecompressed air returns the piston against the action of the spring.

11. A valve-chamber having an inlet and an outlet, a valve normallyclosing the inlet, a brake-cylinder connected to the outlet, and

a compressed-air conduit connected to the inlet, in combination with atrolley-arm-operating cord operatively connected to open the the cord issuddenly tensioned,

valve when 'ating cord operatively hand this 10th compressed airoperates the ating cord operatively connected to trip the detent whenthe cord is suddenly tensioned, said device being operatively connectedto open the valve.

13. A valve-chamber having an inlet and an outlet,- a valve normallyclosing the inlet, a brake-cylinder connected to the outlet, and acompressed-air conduit connected to the inlet in combination with aspring-actuated device and detent therefor, a trolley-arm-operconnectedto trip the detent when'the cord is suddenly tensioned, said devicebeing operatively connected to open the valve and pneumatic means forreturning the piston to its normal position.

14. A valve-chamber having an inlet and an outlet, a valve normallyclosing the inlet, a brake-cylinder connected to the outlet, and acompressed-air conduit connected to the inlet in combination with aspring-actuated device and detent therefor, a trolley-arm-operating cordoperatively connected to trip the detent when the cord is said devicebeing operatively connected -to open the valve and an alarm in theconnection between the outlet and brake-cylinder operated by compressedair.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my day of April, 1903.

JAMES KYNOOH. Witnesses:

BUELL G. TALLMAN, PETER D. MILLOY.

suddenly tensioned,

